Orthopedic shoe



March 2, 1937. v. T. SCHMIDT I ORTHOPEDIC SHOE Filed March 4, 1935 ATTO RN EY INVENTOR f Aiyu/J, /www Patented Mar. 2, 1937 PATENT OFFICE ORTHOPEDIC SHOE Victor T. Schmidt, Long Island City, N. Y., al-

signor to I. Miller & Sons, Inc., Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 4, 1935, serial No. 9,128

l Claim.

V--The present invention relates to shoes and,

more particularly to womens orthopedic shoes.

One objectof the invention is to provide a shoe constructed to properly support the foot.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a shoe with an improved arch and shank construction whereby the footis properly supported at the-arch.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a shoe constructed to prevent crowding of the forward part of the foot into the front portion of .the shoe.

- A further object is to provide a shoe which is so constructed that the tread surface of the out- 1'5'1sole will wear evenly. Y

A further object isA to 'provide a shank stiffener of improved-,construction capable of utilization according tol theY present invention for accomplishing -the .several objects above set forth. l

A yet;.-further Objectis generally to improve the construction of shoes, particularly womens hgh-lieelshoes-f,- andA especially for the purpose of providing a well fitting shoe without detracting from the stylish appearance thereof.

The above objects of the invention and other objects ancillary thereto will best be understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of a shoe embodying the present invention, with parts broken away to illustrate the shank construction;

Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in section, of the outer side of the shoe;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the shank stiffener;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal edge view of the shank stiifener;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view on the line 6--6 of Fig. 2.

Briey described, the shoe constructed according to the present invention is preferably a welt shoe and includes a metal shank stiffener which is disposed between the insole and outsole and extends longitudinally from the top of the heel to the forward end of the arch and transversely from one side of the shank to the other over both inseams. The extension of the stiffener transversely over the inseams at both sides of the shank is an imi portant feature of this invention as this construction prevents displacement or rolling of the inseam and thereby holds the upper in position to properly support the foot. Another important feature of the invention resides in the provision of a rounded convexity in the upper surface of the stifiener adjacent the forward end thereof to support and maintain a corresponding convexity in the upper surface of the insole adjacent the forward end of the arch whereby the tendency of the foot tocrowd toward the toe portion of the shoe is eliminated or greatly minimized. These and other features of the invention will be described presently in greater detail.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a shoe having the upper I0, the insole I2, and outsole I4 stitched together by the welt I6 in the usual way by the inseam I1, and provided with a high heel I8. This shoe is provided with a metal shank stiifener 20, of the construction hereinafter described, disposed between the insole I2 and the outsole I4.

The shank stiffener 20 here shown comprises a steel plate which is curved longitudinally to correspond to the longitudinal arch and has a central' longitudinally extending rib 22 on its bottom or outsole surface and a corresponding recess 24 on its upper or insole surface. Said recess 24 is defined by spaced longitudinally extending ribs 2B which merge into the longitudinally extending marginal edge portions 28 and 30. The portion 30 has a curved edge 32 which conforms in general to the curve at the inside shank portion of the shoe.

It will be noticed that the ribs 26 and the edge portions 28 and 30 are in different planes, said ribs being in a plane at the insole surface and said edge portions being in a plane spaced therefrom at the outsole surface. It will be noticed also that the shank stiifener is wide enough to overlap the inseam I'I at both sides of the shank portion of the shoe and when secured in position does overlap said inseam as best shown in Figs. 1 and 3. More specifically described, the construction of the shank stiffener and its relation to the shank portion of the shoe are such that the edge portions 28 and 30 overlie the inseam I1 and the inner edge portions of the welt I 6 at both sides of the shank portion of the shoe and the ribs 26 are preferably deep enough to bear against the outer surface of the insole I2.

At the forward end of the stiffener 20 there is provided a rounded convexity 34 which, when the stiffener is placed in position in the shoe projects upwardly against the insole and supports a corresponding convexity 36 in the upper surface of the insole. Said convexity is located at the forward end of the arch substantially as shown. This convexity in the insole is formed by lasting the shoe on a last provided with a corresponding concavity in its bottom surface.

The ribs 23 at their forward ends merge, into the convexity 34 while the central rib. 22 merges into the concavity 35 in the stiffener corresponding to said convexity and said concavity is defined by the forward ends of the marginal edge portions 28 and 3lland by a transverse rib 38 adjacent'to the front marginal end portion 40. `Said rib 38 provides a rounded bearing for the forward end of the stiffener on the outsole and prevents the thin front edge of the stiffener from wearing through the outsole.

The edge portion 40 is provided with two apertures 42 for rivets or other fasteners 43 by which the forward end of the stiffener is secured tothe insole. The. rear ends of the ribs 22 and 26 merge into a flat rear end portion 44 provided with a bifurcated extension 46 which is supported at the top of the heel I8 between the latter and the rear part ofthe insole. The end portion is `provided with apertures l48 forrivets or other fastening means 49 by whichl the rear 'end of the stiffener is secured to the insole.

It is apparent that the co-nstruction described above is well adapted to accomplish the several objects of the invention. In particular, it is apparent that the stiiener supports the welt at both sides of the shank portion of the shoe so that the welt at said portion cannot roll and the upper is retained in position to properly support the foot so that it tends to exert an evenly distributed pressure on the tread portion of the outsole toprevent uneven wear of the latter, and

that provisionof the convexity in the insole' which is supported and maintained by the convexity-inthe shank stiffener prevents the foot from crowding into the forwardportion of the shoe and 'hence permits the' use' of a relatively high heel which otherwise could not be used without sacricing a considerablel amount of comfort. lIhepresent shoe'lias been found to fulfill the re-` quirements of a corrective shoe, and this has been accomplished by virtue of the present invention without sacrificing the elements of style and appearance which are, of course, of the greatest importance in womens shoes.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that certain changes in the construction and arrangement of parts may be made therein and, in view of the present disclosure will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the precise constructions herein shown and described except as may be required by the appended claims and the prior art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

'In a shoe having an insole, an outsole and a welt, a shank stiifener comprising a metal plate disposed between said insole and outsole extendingto the lforward end of the longitudinal arch,

said plate being arched longitudinally betweenI its ends and having a rounded convexityon one surface thereof adjacent its forward end and a corresponding concavity on its other surface, a plurality of spaced ribs extending longitudinally of said plate having their forward ends merged into said convexity, and a rib extending longitudinally of said plate and merged into said concavity and a transverse rib adjacent said concavity forwardly thereof and longitudinal marginal edge portions extending on opposite sides of said longitudinal ribs and merged into said transverse rib, said marginal edge portions of the plate extending transversely under the marginal edge portions of the Welt Yat the shank of the shoe, a flat end portion forwardly of said transverse rib extending 'laterally beyond said convexity at both sides thereof, and means for securing said at end portion to said insole.

' VICTOR T. scmmr. 

